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The way we receive and digest news in the modern world is quite incredible when you consider traditional medium like newspapers.

Clive just shouted over this morning that Alan Rickman had died, after seeing a breaking news headline on MSN. So I went to the BBC website to find out more, but no sign of anything.

So I googled Alan Rickman, and look at the results:

The Guardian had reported it 9 minutes ago on their site, and tweeted it 5 minutes ago.

But look at Wikipedia! The entry for Alan Rickman has already been updated, not only that, the knowledge panel on the right handside of the search results has already been updated, which means Google has already re-indexed the updated wikipedia page.

"Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was an English actor"

Refreshed the BBC page, and they have caught up, albeit 11 minutes after the Guardian, and everyone seems to be after Wikipedia!

So is the wikipedia army of editors sat poised over their keyboard waiting for things to happen, or is it an internal race to see who can be the fasted to update their pages?

We really are moving into a real-time content world. 

First one of the year 

Dear ?,

Happy New Year from everyone here at xxxxxx

Blah blah...

1. It's the 12 of Jan so bored now of happy New Year emails.

2. Dear ? How to make me feel special. If the name field is empty, just leave it blank and forget the dear!

Another large organisation that should know better 

If you haven't come across this yet, then there is still time to sign up. 

GOV.UK are opening up the tendering and bidding process for smaller companies in the name of transparency and reducing costs. Traditionally it was larger companies that tended to hoover up all the government contracts, but now anyone who can provide a relevant service can compete.

This is aimed at companies providing digital services, but not just web designers, it can be project management, infrastructure, design, training etc.

If you are interested, then follow the below link and follow the sign up process. If your company meets the relevant condition's, then you maybe listed on the governments procurement list.

We did a similar thing with the Scottish Government, and it does work and you can win contracts.

Its open to all business types including sole traders, so what have you got to lose?

GOV.UK Digital Marketplace

Hi Craig

You need to let HMRC know: Tell HMRC about a change to your business

You will also need to let your bank know, which will probably be the most complex bit, as you will need to be able to receive money as WHEELER&SON Exterior Cleaning Services, as well as keep your previous trading names. So maybe a few forms to fill in, with a signature in blood, but talk to your bank. They can then send new cards, chequebook.

Also let any suppliers know if you have any regular arrangements.

Then obviously update your documentation, invoices, quote forms, website etc.

As for adhoc outsourced resource, as long as the person is self employed, it's not your problem. They will invoice you for their time as a service, and it's up to them to declare any revenue.

Hope that helps.

It seems all my heroes from yesteryear are dying, obviously means I'm getting older

Interesting to see how quickly Wikipedia updates it's entries (at least for celebs!). First reported 2 hours ago and wiki page already updated!

Was a superb (if a little odd) artist.

Well forgetting how rich the Country is getting from my super un-economical and nonPC 4x4, Filled up at Morrisons yesterday 

99.7 for Diesel! Woohoo, long may it continue. Now dig up Gatwick, Heathrow or anywhere else where we've got a secret stash of crude and bring the price down more. Govt can happily have 500% tax if I'm pay 50p a litre 

Probarbly end up as a rant but I'm baffled why my kids school needs two 'inset' days (whatever that means). Cant believe they have forgotten to teach over the xmas hols?

So currently sat in softplay hell trying to wear out two hyper active richardsons.

Must cost business a fortune with parents having to take more time off. Maybe I can fine the school as they seem quick enough to fine us if we take kids out of term time 

Hopefully a lot of us will have some form of marketing plan and business objectives for the year ahead.

Here were our targets from last January, and results

• Increase revenue.
• Sign up 5 new partners.
• Continue to Grow Social Media Exposure.

Twitter Followers:  3,702 

Facebook Business Page: 2,652

Google+ Business Page: 145

Results

We managed to grow revenue slightly.

Signed up 2 new partners, so fell short on that.

But Social Media is growing slowly but surely.

Twitter Followers:  4,142

Facebook Business Page: 3,355

Google+ Business Page: 270 (still struggling!)

Plan for 2016:

• Increase revenue.
• Sign up 2 new partners.
• Continue to Grow Social Media Exposure, focusing more on interaction.
• Follow marketing plan more strictly and stay on-piste!
• Take on new staff member.

Did you set yourself any targets for last year, and if so how did it go?

If you don't want to review it publicly, then sit down and analyse your results and revise it for this year.

Remember the cliché, keep doing the same old thing and you will get the same old results.

This has to be a future Simon Mayo confession 

Yep, I reckon so 

Although like the sound of Rebecca's sprouts fried with bacon!